Industrial air compressors are used for a wide variety of applications ranging from cleaning to operating high powered or complex tools. The main difference between a portable and an industrial air compressor is that an industrial compressor is able to deliver much higher PSI (Air Pressure) than a portable model.
The majority of Industrial compressors work in one of three ways:
Reciprocating: A reciprocating air compressor works by increasing the pressure of the air by reducing its overall volume. This method of compression is called positive displacement. Reciprocating air compressors commonly come as either single stage or two stage models. A single stage reciprocating compressor will generally be able to produce pressure up to about 100psi where as a more advanced two stage model can produce higher pressures up to a maximum of around 250psi. As reciprocating compressors contain lots of moving parts they often need periods of down time to ensure they don’t overheat.
Rotary Screw: Rotary screw air compressors also use positive displacement however accomplish this via an internal rotor which provides an uninterrupted flow of air as it contains no internal valves. Rotary compressors have fewer individual moving parts, are usually oil cooled and are therefore suitable for more continuous duty and industrial work. Rotary screw compressors can also be ordered as oil free units, useful for applications where a clean untainted flow of air is required such as dentistry or other healthcare work.
Rotary Centrifugal: Rotary Centrifugal compressors use a rotating impeller to transfer energy to the air. This type of technology falls into the ‘dynamic’ compressor category. Centrifugal compressors can produce high capacity and continuous flows of air for heavy duty work. Because of the way Centrifugal machines are designed they don’t need oil to cool them so fall into the oil free air compressor category.
Before deciding on a particular type of air compressor you may want to ask yourself the following questions:
Where will the air compressor be used and what power supplies will be available?
If you’re intending to use the compressor on a building site you might consider a 110volt model if there is electrical power or a petrol or diesel compressor if working away from a power source or need enhanced portability. The standard 230v compressors will most probably be the cheapest but do check to make sure these can be used in your area of work.
Will I need a clean and hygienic flow of air?
When using air compressors in sterile environments such as hospitals or dental clinics you need to choose a model which can supply a clean and unadulterated flow of air. In this case you would most probably choose an oil free or oil-less unit which would be ideal for these applications.
How much power will I need?
If the compressor you’re using doesn’t produce enough volume to power the tool you’re hoping to use you may end up with problems such as misfires, a slow cycling tool or one that doesn’t work at all. It’s essential to work out the size, type and consumption of tools you will be using with your system to ensure you get quotes for a compressor that can handle your workload.